LARKANA, Jan 10: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim announced on Wednesday the restoration of Larkana Development Authority (LDA) and hoped it would help usher in a new era of development in the district.

The LDA was created through an act by Sindh Governor Kamal Azfar on June 15, 1994 and was dissolved by Musharraf government a few years ago.

Mr. Rahim said while addressing a public meeting in Ratodero that in past funds allocated for LDA were siphoned off. Ratodero would get a Reverse Osmosis System (ROS) plant, which would provide sweet water to the area where underground water was highly brackish, he said.

He said that LDA would lay a full-fledged drainage project in Ratodero town. He expressed his dissatisfaction over law and order situation in the town and asked “Bandits live in Kettey Mumtaz. Who provides them protection. What the ‘Dahesar’, an apparent reference to Mumtaz Bhutto, will do in 10 minutes power he desired for.”

He said that a PPP MNA Anwer Bhutto frequented his office to get certain jobs done and added making an allusion to PPP that its leaders became very worried about people when they were abroad but cared less for them when they were in the country.

He said that democracy should be upheld under all circumstances but they (PPP) supported it when it suited them and opposed it when they were out of power. PPP had targeted him when he was in opposition, he said.

Mr. Rahim said that the Sachal Alliance (SA) had now broken the party’s legs. He said that he did not see the land reforms introduced by PPP government implemented in Ratodero. Perhaps the reforms were not applicable here, he added.

He made an offer to the SA leadership to merge into PML (Q) if it suited them. PML (Q) would, however, be happy to continue to work with them in Larkana, he said.

The chief minister suspended Ratodero Mukhtiarkar Abdul Ghafoor Dhamraho on charges of interfering into zakat committees elections in Mullan Kalhora village and ordered to conduct an inquiry against him.

Later in the day he went to the residence of Rukunddain Mirani, his media advisor, and offered condolence over the death of his father.

Earlier, the chief minister said after inaugurating Jinnah Bagh in Larkana late on Tuesday night that the city would have 31 kilometres of roads, two fire brigades and a treatment plant.

He ordered to shift vegetable market out of the city and prepare a comprehensive project for the construction of fruit and vegetable market.

Sindh Chief Minister’s Inspection Team (CMIT) would keep check on the quality of development works being carried out by the executing agencies and ensure proper utilisation of funds, he said.

He warned that no one who was found involved in the misuse of funds or substandard works would be spared and announced the establishment of a journalists’ colony in Larkana.